Do I drink too much alcohol?

A person who drinks too much may feel it is impossible for
them to reduce their alcohol consumption.

It can be hard for someone to tell exactly how much they
normally drink.

Accustomed drinkers are less aware of feeling drunk, so it may
be a good idea to keep a diary of alcohol consumed over a period of time and
make a note every time you have a drink.

Safe drinking

Present advice on safe drinking is:

no more than two units of alcohol per day for women (14 in a
week)

no more than three units per day for men ( 21 in a
week)

you should have at least two drink-free days a week.

When drinking at home, people are almost always more generous,
so it’s a good idea to get into the habit of using a spirit measure.

Staying within the ‘safe’ limits does not mean that a person is
capable of driving a motor vehicle. When driving, it's best not to drink at
all.

Advice for pregnant women

Pregnant women are
advised to drink no more than one to two units of alcohol once or twice a
week.

However, there is currently no clear evidence as to what is safe
for the developing baby so it is best to avoid all alcohol if possible,
especially in the first three months of pregnancy where there is an increased
risk of miscarriage.

Heavy drinking during pregnancy can cause the baby to be born
with a condition known as foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).

Needing a lot of alcohol to get drunk can perhaps indicate that
you are already drinking too much, too often.

Alcohol tolerance can be compared to a lack of the ability to
feel pain. If you didn't feel pain, you wouldn't immediately remove your hand
from a hot stove and notice it was burnt until it was too late.

If you have developed a tolerance for alcohol, you can no longer
trust your body's signals to tell you when you've had too much. Instead, you
will have to keep count of drinks to know when you've drunk too much.

How do I reduce how much I drink?

A person who drinks too much may feel it is impossible for them
to reduce their alcohol consumption.

If a drinking habit is heavy, it's often hard work to reduce it
– simply because it is always difficult to change habits. You may not even be
sure whether you want to cut down.

Fortunately, there are many different ways to reduce alcohol
consumption and most people are able to find a way that suits them.

A step-by-step guide to reducing alcohol consumption

Keep a record of all alcohol consumption. Work on ways to make
it easier to reduce the alcohol intake.

Talking to a partner or friend could flag up some self-help
ideas.

I can stop drinking alcohol on weekdays.

I can stop drinking alcohol during the day at work.

I can substitute every second drink with water, non-alcoholic
beer, coffee or a soft drink.

I can take a different route home, so I won't be tempted to
visit a pub.

I can visit my family instead of my drinking
friends.

Use a smaller wine glass, and drink by the glass and not the
bottle.

What if I can't reduce my drinking by myself?

It may be difficult for a person to reduce their alcohol
consumption without outside assistance.

There are several places where it is possible to get help and
counselling.

A GP will be able to help by:

giving advice and drug prescription

referring a heavy drinker to a counsellor or an organisation
that can provide help, such as Alcoholics Anonymous.

Dedicated alcohol detoxification facilities are available in the
NHS but waiting lists can be lengthy and it is necessary to show a real desire
to cut down on drinking.

There are several private units but these are expensive and it
is unusual for the NHS to fund placement.

What about withdrawal symptoms?

For a very heavy drinker, stopping alcohol abruptly can be
dangerous.

In addition to the
anxiety that abrupt
withdrawal can cause, a small proportion of people develop a potentially
serious condition called delirium tremens (DTs). This can cause confusion and
even convulsions.

Patients at risk of DTs are best managed by planned withdrawal
from alcohol in hospital, along with supportive counselling and drug therapy to
counteract the physical effects. Benzodiazepines are the drug of choice, such
as diazepam or lorazepam.

Is there a drug to stop me drinking?

The short answer is 'no', but there are medications that can be
prescribed by a medical specialist after someone has stopped drinking, or who
has successfully withdrawn from alcohol.

Antabuse
(disulfiram) is a prescription-only medicine that's designed to deter people
from drinking.

Antabuse does not remove the craving for alcohol, but it will
help a drinker avoid being tempted in a weak moment.

It should only be prescribed in combination with psychological
support and under supervision from a specialist alcohol detoxification
team.

Will it help me?

For some people, Antabuse is a good idea and a safety measure.

Ex-drinkers who have used Antabuse say it is a relief to know
they can't drink.

It allows alcoholics to focus on things other than not
drinking too much.

However, Antabuse is a controversial medicine.

It does not help everyone who takes it, nor is it the only way
to give up alcohol.

This is because if a person drinks while they are taking
Antabuse, it will cause serious and unpleasant symptoms such as:

In the event of shock, treatment will be required from a doctor
or in a hospital emergency department. Because of its effect on the liver, it
is no longer the first choice medication for treating alcohol
addiction.

Campral EC
(acamprosate) is the preferred drug to help people abstain from excessive
drinking.

It works in the brain where it is thought to act by reducing the
desire to drink alcohol.

It doesn’t produce the same effect that Antabuse does if
alcohol is consumed and is normally only prescribed where someone has
successfully stopped drinking.

Its use is usually combined with counselling to prevent a return
to alcohol abuse and is commonly prescribed for up to 6 months.

Naltrexone is
another drug that can be prescribed, again with supervision and support from a
specialist medical team. If drinking persists 4 to 6 weeks after prescribing,
it is stopped.

I think I have a drink problem. How do I find help?

If you drink more than the recommended amount and you find it
difficult to cut down, there are several places you can turn to for advice and
guidance.

Throughout the country, there are local alcohol advice centres
where you can ask for help.

They can put you in touch with clinics where you will find
specialists, nurses and social workers who can help. Phone numbers are listed
in the telephone directory or can be obtained from the local health trust or
your GP.

Voluntary organisations, such as
Alcoholics Anonymous
and
Alcohol Concern, are
another valuable source of help and support. Adfam can give support to the
families of those with alcohol addiction.

What help can I get at a clinic?

You may know you need help cutting down and want to go
directly into treatment.

You may want to speak to people at the clinic to judge the
seriousness of your problem or get advice about what possibilities are open to
you.

You can also make contact if you are worried about one of
your relatives or friends, who you think may have a drink problem.

The materials in this web site are in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor. The web site does not have answers to all problems. Answers to specific problems may not apply to everyone. If you notice medical symptoms or feel ill, you should consult your doctor - for further information see our Terms and conditions.